444 marlin load development? any info.. I shoot long range matches and live In Ohio. They passed a new law allowing straight walled cartridges. I have decided to go with a .444 marlin. I ordered a H&R handi rifle with a 22 in barrel I plan to put a muzzle brake on. I need a load for deer size game that shoots flat out to 300 - 400 .. well as far as it is effective. what kind of ballistics can I expect? have anyone had any luck with a 444
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444 marlin load development? any info
- Thread starter Rusty Bluck
- Start date
Take a look at what the Lyman manual has to say about the 444, and compare their velocities to what some other ballistics programs report. What you will find is that the 444 velocity is dependent upon barrel length. Most ballistics programs use a 24 inch barrel for testing and report MV of around 2300fps for a 240gr bullet. Lyman's testing for that cartridge uses an 18 inch ported barrel and reports velocity for the same bullet of around 1600fps. I shoot the 444 through an 18 inch ported Winchester Timber Carbine and I find that the Lyman manual is pretty close. I've never tried to shoot mine past 100 yards but isnipe indicates a 37MOA drop at 400 yards with velocity of around 900fps and energy less than 450 foot pounds. Not much of a deer gun at those distances. As a result, I pulled the scope off and shoot iron sights for close range hogs and such. It hits hogs super hard inside of 100 yards.
Regarding handloading, I've only tried Varget for powder which is clearly not fast enough for complete burn inside the 18 inch barrel. You can tell because of all the unburnt powder on the bench after firing. So, with the triple 4, a longer barrel is better for velocity but you give up a lot in weight and convenience which is why I bought mine. I love the carbine length for carrying around.
The 444 built a reputation as a hard hitting short range brush gun. With short barrel velocity, 300-400 yards would be the ragged edge for the cartridge, maybe beyond the edge. You decide. Using a 22 inch barrel should give you most of that velocity back so make sure you use a chrono to verify your MV. As an aside, I've never found accuracy to be that great so that's another mark against the 444 for long range. And finally, the little Winchester kicks like a mule even with its ported barrel.
So, let us know how it goes, especially if you find a load that shoots accurately with decent velocity.
Regarding handloading, I've only tried Varget for powder which is clearly not fast enough for complete burn inside the 18 inch barrel. You can tell because of all the unburnt powder on the bench after firing. So, with the triple 4, a longer barrel is better for velocity but you give up a lot in weight and convenience which is why I bought mine. I love the carbine length for carrying around.
The 444 built a reputation as a hard hitting short range brush gun. With short barrel velocity, 300-400 yards would be the ragged edge for the cartridge, maybe beyond the edge. You decide. Using a 22 inch barrel should give you most of that velocity back so make sure you use a chrono to verify your MV. As an aside, I've never found accuracy to be that great so that's another mark against the 444 for long range. And finally, the little Winchester kicks like a mule even with its ported barrel.
So, let us know how it goes, especially if you find a load that shoots accurately with decent velocity.
Consider getting a .45-70 with a heavier barrel and having it rechambered to either a Sharps .45-110 or a custom .45 on the Norma basic .45 2.9" case. You should be able to work up a load using slower burning smokeless powder and a 350 grain round nose jacketed bullet that will meet your needs.
Yes...especially if you go to the longer case with more capacity. The .450 Nitro express 3 1/4" case with RL 19 and the 350 grain Hornady bullet should get you near 2700 fps.
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This is my load; the target was shot from 200 yards with an Encore handgun.
If it works on kudu it should work on deer.
I"ve never shot it at more than 200 yards but bullet drop will be significant.
A 460 S&W Magnum shoots flatter but I found load workup in that cartridge very challenging. Even a 460 S&W Magnum will have significant drop though. Out of a braked Encore handgun with a 15 inch barrel, mine does about 2,350 fps at the muzzle with Hornady 250 gr. SST/ML bullets and drops about 7 inches from 100 yards to 200 yards. If I remember correctly, my 444 Marlin has about an 11 inch drop from 100 to 200 yards.
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I have a .444 Marlin Encore as well. The highest BC suitable for game right now is the Hornady LEVER FTX made for the .444. It is a Flextip with a BC of .225. Fast rifle powders like H335, 2015, 2230 etc. will give the best performance. But flat out to 300 is not going to happen. I have shot mine to 330 yards with good success, I would not go past that distance myself.
Hornady does make a standard and a Superformance load for the .444. Sighted in several inches high at 100, they are about 18" low at 300. You would be hard pressed to beat those loads. I consider the cartridge to be good for about 200 yards and in when in dark timber type of hunting. I guess a tree stand would be good too. Most deer are shot inside 100 yards anyway, so I would not get too concerned.
Hornady does make a standard and a Superformance load for the .444. Sighted in several inches high at 100, they are about 18" low at 300. You would be hard pressed to beat those loads. I consider the cartridge to be good for about 200 yards and in when in dark timber type of hunting. I guess a tree stand would be good too. Most deer are shot inside 100 yards anyway, so I would not get too concerned.
I get single digit SDs and about 1.2 MOA out to 330 yards. Granted my .450BM is just under 1MOA, but they are pretty close to each other in practical applications.
The .45-70 with 350 grain bullets and good smokeless powder loads, in that 32 inch barrel will get you close to 2100fps. Get a good laser range finder and shoot drops to 400 yards and you should get more venison than you can eat.
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